Bramble.
Botanical name:
Rubus vulgaris.
THE most common bush in our hedges. The stalks are woody, angulated, and of a purplish colour; and they are armed with crooked spines; the leaves are rough, indented, and stand either five or three on a stalk. The flowers are white, with a very faint tinge of purplish, and the fruit is composed of a number of small grains.
The most neglected things have their use. The buds of the bramble-leaves boiled in spring water, and the decoction sweetened with honey, are excellent for a sore throat. A syrup made of the juice of the unripe fruit, with very fine sugar, is cooling and astringent. It is good in immoderate fluxes of the menses, and even in purgings. The berries are to be gathered for this purpose, when they are red.
